5 Ways to Select the Right Eye Doctor in Fresno, CA

Selecting the right eye doctor is important. You need someone who can take charge of your eye health and suggest treatments as and when needed. Make sure you select an eye doctor who takes genuine interest in helping you improve your vision. Get a comprehensive eye exam done to understand your eye health better. Unlike other problems in the body, the symptoms of vision problems are not as prominent. If you’re living in the Fresno, CA area, there are several vision centers to choose from, so it’s important that you pick the one that’s right for you. You want to do the work and pick the eye doctor in Fresno, CA that can help you best.

Here are some factors you should consider when selecting an eye doctor in Fresno, CA:

1. Visit the Clinic

A great way to understand your eye doctor is by visiting the clinic. Check if you’re greeted by a receptionist or a staff member. Observe how the staff members interact with one another. Are they always in a rush or do they seem impolite to you? Paying attention to these signs will help you understand if you’re comfortable being in such an environment or not.

Finally when you meet your eye doctor, ask them plenty of questions. See how they respond to you and whether they make eye contact. Check if they are constantly working on the computer or organizing equipment. And while you’re at the office, look around for displays of the doctor’s diplomas and licenses.

2. Understand the Team, Specialties and Affordability

Once your family has provided you with a few recommendations, do a bit of research on the doctors. Find out if they have been accused of malpractice in the past, verify their credentials, and check their areas of specialization, such as glaucoma, LASIK, pediatrics, etc. Find out what vision care products they offer and if they are abreast with the latest technology.

3. Go through Their Website

There’s a lot you can find out from the website. Usually, there is a chat box that initiates a conversation with you to answer queries you may have. In addition, there may be testimonials on their homepage that will give an idea about how reliable their services are. Go through the services they offer for vision correction and check if the procedures they have explained are easy to understand. Look out for any offers and benefits they may have introduced. And check if they fit into your budget.

4. Go for an Initial Eye Examination

This is the most self-explanatory factor. A one-on-one interaction with your doctor will be the easiest way for you to make a judgment about who’s serving you. Do they welcome you with a smile? Do they make you feel comfortable? Do they take genuine interest in your well-being? Do they explain why a particular service is recommended to you? These are a few questions you should be asking yourself before you decide to proceed with a vision correction procedure.

5. Check with Your Insurance Plans

Tapping on your insurance information is also vital. You can check with your insurance company about the eye doctors covered under your plan. Get a list from them and narrow down your choices so you know which doctors you can ultimately visit.

Teaming up with the right doctor is instrumental to good vision care. Go through the above tips to ensure you make a wise choice. A relationship with your eye doctor must be built on trust and should transcend into a lasting connection.

If you have been looking for an experienced eye doctor in Fresno, CA, book an appointment with Insight Vision Centre today for a comprehensive eye assessment.

Did You Know About These Risks of Sleeping With Contact Lenses On?

A majority of people who wear contact lenses are guilty of sleeping with contact lenses on at some point or the other in their lives. So what happens if you sleep in contacts?

Sleeping with contact lenses on can lead to severe eye infections, corneal ulcers and other eye health problems which may result in permanent vision loss. An example of how your eyes become prone to infections if you sleep with your contacts on is this. Throughout the day, pollutants present in the air get into your eyes and some of these may work their way under the contact lenses. If you sleep with your contacts on, the combination of closed eyelids, reduced eye movement and low oxygen levels help the infection causing bacteria and viruses to thrive. This gives way to severe eye infections.

Red and irritated eyes, pain, blurred vision, light sensitivity, excessive tearing and ulcers in the eye are some of the common symptoms of sleeping with your contacts on. Listed below are some of the serious risks associated with frequently sleeping while wearing your contact lenses. Take a look:

• Pink Eye or Conjunctivitis – One of the most prevalent side effects of sleeping while wearing contact lenses is conjunctivitis. Commonly referred to as pink eye, this viral infection is basically an inflammation of the conjunctiva. It covers the white portion of the eye and lines the inner sides of the eyelid. Itching and discomfort are experienced in this condition. A special form of this viral disease known as Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) is also commonly seen in people frequently sleeping with their contact lenses on. In this condition, bumps develop on the inner surface of the eyelid causing pain and sensitivity to light.

• Keratitis – This condition is similar to conjunctivitis to an extent. The inflammation caused in this condition affects the cornea, the clear part in the front of your eyes through which you see. Apart from all the symptoms of conjunctivitis, there is a risk of your vision being damaged due to keratitis. It can be caused due to bacteria, fungi and amoebae. Of all these three, amoebic keratitis is the most serious form and may result in loss of vision. Another form known as Contact Lens Acute Red Eye or CLARE often comes on suddenly during sleep and can cause severe pain and light sensitivity. Corneal ulcers caused due to keratitis may lead to permanent blindness if not treated properly.

• Corneal Neovascularization – Apart from infection, those who sleep while wearing contact lenses are also at the risk of oxygen deprivation in the eye. This causes the eye to grow more blood vessels in order to increase the supply of blood to the cornea. The increase in blood vessels hinders the light from travelling through the cornea normally, thus impairing vision. This is known as corneal neovascularization.

• Blindness –If keratitis is left untreated, it can lead to minor vision loss or the need for a cornea transplant or even blindness in some cases. Those who wear contact lens can reduce the risk of infection by dedicatedly following all the precautions related to cleaning, handling and storage of the contact lenses. Purchasing disposable soft contact lenses is also a good option for those who find the maintenance of contacts tedious.

Sleeping with contact lenses on is never a good idea. To learn more about how to use and care for your contact lenses so that you can enjoy perfect vision without any associated risks, get in touch with us. Our team of eye experts at Insight Vision Center is dedicated to help you restore perfect vision without any hassles. Book your appointment today.

Eye Conditions That Trigger Blurry Vision and Migraines

An American Migraine Study conducted in 1999 says that in the U.S., 38 million people are living with migraines, out of which 44% people suffer from migraines due to vision changes and blurred vision.

It’s normal for our vision to deteriorate as we age. However, not many people realize that their eyesight may have gone from bad to worse with age.

When we have trouble seeing, we may either squint or hold things too far or too close to them. While doing so, we may weaken our eye muscles and nerves without the slightest inkling that we may be having a bad eyesight.

The result can be blurry vision and migraine. Read on to understand what cause migraines that are vision related.

Migraine Triggers: Eye Conditions That Are Responsible for Blurred Vision and Migraines

 

• Strain on your eyes

 

 

 

1. Improper focusing or improper alignment of the eyes causes eye strain. Eye conditions such as farsighted, nearsighted or

astigmatism

1. cause vision changes that are responsible for eye strain.

Migraine due to eye strain starts after using your eyes for a long time to do a variety of tasks. Activities such as reading, looking at the computer for long periods (computer vision syndrome) and sewing can trigger a migraine.

If you indulge in activities that require you to use your eyes for long periods of time, make sure you get prescription glasses. The eye strain will reduce and also your migraine.

 

1. 1. Inflammation of your eyes

Eye inflammation may cause blurry vision and migraine. Other symptoms of eye inflammation may include as follows:

1. 1. • Swelling and redness of the eyes and eyelids
      • Eye pain when you move your eyes
      • Extreme sensitivity to light

It is important to visit an ophthalmologist to examine your inflamed eyes. The eye doctor may use the slit lamp method to see if there is evidence of tumor inside or behind the eye.

If a tumor is present behind the eye, it is usually accompanied with a lot of eye pain as it will cause the eyes to bulge out. A tumor in the eye can also cause loss of vision or defect in the peripheral vision.

 

1. 1. Glaucoma attack

Most people suffer from open angle glaucoma, which is usually painless. However, an angle closure glaucoma can be painful.

An acute attack of angle closure glaucoma can result in eye pain, blurry vision and migraine, and bulging red eye. However, a mild attack may just cause pain in and around the eye.

A glaucoma migraine may be instigated when there is intense pressure on the eye. For example, when a person moves from darkness to light (leaves a movie theatre). Glaucoma migraine attack needs urgent attention because it is crucial to get the eye pressure back to normal.

 

1. 1. Optic nerve conditions

The optic nerves are part of our brain. If the pressure in the brain is high, the optic nerves become swollen. If there is a tumor present in the brain, it puts pressure on the optic nerves making them swell or produce double vision.

However, a disorder called Pseudotumor cerebri (also called idiopathic intracranial hypertension) produces high pressure in the brain with no tumor. This disorder usually affects the young and overweight women. The symptoms may include the following:

1. 1. • Temporary visual loss, lasting for a few seconds
      • Blurry vision and migraine concentrated in or behind the eyes
      • Double vision
      • Whooshing sound in the ears

Optic nerve swellings have to examined by the ophthalmologist, who may use an ophthalmoscope to diagnose the condition.

 

1. 1. Temporal arteritis

This blurry vision and headache causing disorder typically occurs in people above 65 years. If it is left untreated, it can cause permanent blindness.

In this condition, there is inflammation of the blood vessels that block the blood flow. The onset of this disorder can be painless, sudden and dramatic. Some of the symptoms of temporal arteritis are as follows:

1. 1. • Blurry vision and migraine
      • Tenderness of the scalp
      • Weakness and pain while chewing
      • Fever
      • Weight loss
      • Loss of appetite
      • Joint and muscle soreness
      • Night sweats
      • Depression

Temporal arteritis can occur in one eye but if left untreated can rapidly progress to the other eye as well.

If you have blurry vision and migraine, you need to see an eye doctor to rule out serious possibilities. A careful evaluation of your symptoms and a comprehensive eye exam will reveal the reason behind your blurry vision and headache.

If you experience blurry vision and migraine, don’t take chances. Visit an ophthalmologist in Fresno, CA today. Make an appointment with Insight Vision Center now!

Common Causes of Blurred Vision and Eye Irritation Due to Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are safe and convenient, but they bring along quite a few minor annoyances. If you have been wearing contact lenses for long, you may have experienced these little common annoyances at some point in life, which may include eye irritation, itchy eyes, dry eyes, blurry vision, and the constant feeling that something is stuck in your eye.

These eye symptoms may be annoying and frustrating, but they shouldn’t panic you. There are many causes of blurred vision and contact lens irritation, but they aren’t all serious and can be easily taken care of. Read on to know about the possible causes of blurred vision and contact lens discomfort:

Common Causes of Blurred Vision and Eye Irritation Due to Contact Lenses

1. Poor Contact Lens Hygiene
Poor contact lens hygiene increases the risk of contracting eye infections. Unhealthy care techniques that can lead to eye pain and blurred vision are as follows:

• Not cleaning the contact lens properly.
• Letting the contact lens dry out.
• Not washing your hands before placing them into your eyes.
• Sharing your contact lens with others.

2. Faulty Fit
Your eye doctor takes measurements of your eye size and shape to ensure that your contact lens fits you perfectly. However, measurements can go a bit off sometimes.
Improper fit of the eye lens may be the reason for your redness, fluctuations in vision, and itchiness.
If you have these eye symptoms, get your measurement rechecked to ensure that the fit is proper. If left untreated, improper fitting of the lens can cause serious damage to the cornea leading to vision loss.

3. Wearing the Lens for Too Long
If you wear the contact lens for longer than their recommended time period, you may suffer from blurred vision and eye irritation.

If you want to keep the contact lens on for a longer time than recommended, it is advisable to switch over to an extended wear contact lens.

Also, wearing your contact lenses past their expiration date can cause bacterial infections in your eye. So, get in the habit of replacing your contact lenses as often as recommended by your eye doctor.

4. Susceptibility to Environmental Allergens
Pollutants in the air like dust, dander, and pollen may stick to the surface of the contact lens and affect your eyes to cause blurred vision, eye irritation, eye pain, redness, and dryness.
You have to clean your contact lens frequently to remove the buildup. If cleaning the lens doesn’t help, consider switching to daily disposable contact lenses.

5. Bacterial Infections on Contact Lenses
Microorganisms present in your contact lenses solution or on your contact lenses can cause eye infections, which if left untreated can damage your eyes.

Therefore, if you think your cause of blurry vision, eye pain and irritation is due to an eye infection, it is important to see an eye doctor as soon as possible. Through an eye exam, your eye doctor will diagnose the infection and treat it accordingly.

6. Accumulation of Debris
Protein and debris deposits can buildup on your contact lenses making them cloudy and dirty. This buildup causes blurred vision. Cleaning your contact lenses is crucial. If blurriness and itchy eyes are due to debris and protein buildup, follow these steps:

• If your contact lenses are in its wear period, first wash your hands, then gently rub your contact lenses with the solution. Then, store them in a fresh solution overnight.
• If you have been wearing the contact lenses past its expiration date, it’s high time you dispose them of, and buy a new set.

7. Dryness of the Eyes and the Contact Lenses
Dryness of your eyes and also of your contact lenses can cause blurred vision and eye irritation. Try these tips, if your eyes or contact lenses feel dry:

• Intentionally blink your eyes a few times.
• Apply rewetting drops or remove and rinse your lenses.
• If you experience dryness often, talk about it to your eye doctor. You may be prescribed contact lenses that are specially designed for chronic dry eyes.

8. Using Non-Hypoallergenic Makeup
Makeup can cause blurred vision and eye irritation. Here’s how you can avoid makeup causing harm to your eyes:

• Choose makeup that is hypoallergenic.
• Ensure that you wear your contact lens before you apply makeup.
• Use cream based makeup instead of powder makeup.
• Discard your eye makeup every 3 months.

Tips to maintain good eye health when using contact lens

• Take off your contact lenses whenever possible to give your eyes a break.
• Buy a new set of contact lenses when your eye doctor recommends it.
• Don’t try to wear the lens longer than prescribed.
• Follow proper care procedures and maintain good hygiene when you clean your lens.
• If you notice symptoms that are unusual, contact your eye doctor immediately.
• See your ophthalmologist at least once a year for a comprehensive eye exam.

Are your contact lenses the reason behind your blurry vision? Are they responsible for your itchy eyes? Request an appointment with Insight Vision Center, and your ophthalmologist in Fresno, CA will be able to help you. Call now!

What is Presbyopia and the Importance of Eye Vitamins

What Is Presbyopia?

Presbyopia is a common eye condition that many people experience after the age of 40. It is a refractive eye condition, which is normal for an individual to have.

When an object is located far away from an observer, light rays from an object pass through the cornea. The pupil and the lens focus with clarity on the retina. This results in a focused image on the retina.

In a patient with presbyopia, the lens lacks the flexibility to refocus the image on the retina. This causes the image to focus further and further behind the retina as the objects move closer to the observer. Individuals experience blurred vision and eye strain when they look at an object up close.

In a younger patient, the lens is very flexible, and it changes shape. This is known as accommodation. This process refocuses the image with clarity back onto the retina. This is a smooth process that is undetectable by a young observer. On the other hand, older individuals need help to refocus images up close, which is accomplished by using bifocals or reading glasses.

Symptoms of Presbyopia

● Not seeing so well in the dark
● Unable to read small print clearly
● Squinting
● Feeling tired after doing some work
● Eye strain or headaches after some physical activity
● Holding reading material at arm’s length

TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR PRESBYOPIA

LASIK
Although presbyopia cannot be treated by LASIK, its variations allow you to be less dependent on your glasses or bifocals. Here, the dominant eye is corrected for distance vision, while the less-dominant eye remains untreated. The reason being, a mildly nearsighted eye does not require glasses all the time. This treatment is popular across patients as a surgical correction for presbyopia.

PRK
PRK is also known as photorefractive keratectomy, and it’s an excellent option for patients who have a thin cornea. This treatment does not require epithelial tissue as opposed to other treatments.

Corneal Inlays
As opposed to LASIK and PRK, corneal inlays add tissue in the eyes instead of removing it. In this procedure, an implant is placed in the weaker eye. This is another form of monovision treatment that allows the dominant eye to preserve its distance vision.

RLE
A refractive lens exchange is a popular treatment option for patients with presbyopia. To improve your vision, the lens present in your eye is replaced with the help of IOL. This lens replacement procedure has been a treatment option for cataract patients or patients with a cloudy lens. The natural clouded lens is replaced with an artificial clear one.

Acupuncture
This technique activates the eye muscles to promote better focusing.

Homeopathy
Homeopathic practices improve your vision significantly.

Qigong
Qigong is a Chinese herbal medicine to correct presbyopia.

Natural Treatment for Presbyopia

While surgical treatments significantly improve your vision, you also need to adopt natural treatments to ensure your eyes remain healthy:

1. 1. Eye Exercises

Eye exercises are easy to perform no matter where you are. And before you grab your morning coffee, make it a habit to perform a quick eye exercise every day. Perhaps even in the mid-afternoon when you experience an eye strain.

1. 1. Drink Green Tea

Drinking green tea daily will fight diabetes and heart disease to protect the lens and retina from being damaged.

1. 1. Keep Blood Glucose in Check

If you have high blood sugar, you have a higher chance of acquiring cataracts. You may damage your arteries and blood vessels, and that can lead to diabetic retinopathy.

1. 1. Vitamins

The importance of eye vitamins for people with presbyopia cannot be understated, and a wide range of vitamins can help you with your vision problems:

1. 1. • Vitamin A

Vitamin A is an essential supplement for good vision. Vitamin A has antioxidants that prevent conditions such as vision loss, hypermetropia, night blindness, cataracts, and glaucoma. Additionally, it treats common bacterial infections such as conjunctivitis.

1. 1. • Vitamin B

The absence of Vitamin B in your diet can result in weaker eye muscles, especially in cases of Vitamin B1 deficiency.

1. 1. • Zinc

The presence of zinc in your body helps Vitamin A perform better.

1. 1. • Bioflavonoids

They have antioxidant properties to promote better eyesight.

While these tips are essential to give your vision a much-needed boost, make sure you change up your day-to-day activities a little.

A Couple of More Notes…

Make sure you take regular breaks from work. If you’re getting up from your desk to make yourself a cup of green tea, don’t go back to your desk with it immediately. Move around a little and walk down your office corridor or take a stroll down the neighborhood. This way, you’re giving your eyes enough time to rest before you get back to work.

To keep your eye health in check, make sure you visit an eye specialist who would give you insights on your condition. Each case is individual and unique, so make sure you consult with your doctor.

If you are looking for an experienced Ophthalmologist in Fresno, CA, visit InSight Vision today for a comprehensive eye check-up.

Dry Eyes in Winter: 6 Ways To Prevent Them

It comes as no surprise that the winter season transforms the outside world. It also makes us switch up our daily routines to prepare for the necessary changes that winter brings in.

However, when the chilling effects of the colder months are in full swing, your wardrobe is not the only change you need to make to prepare for the winters. Winters affect our bodies and health too. You need to be prepared for this change too.

From chapped lips, runny nose to frozen fingers, there is no escape to the inconvenience that you may experience in your day-to-day life. However, if there is one part of your body that receives the worst of the winter weather, it is your eyes.

The exposure to harsh winter winds can delay the production of fluids required to support the protective, liquid coating that our eyes require to stay hydrated. Result: Itchy eyes and dry eyes.

Your eyes may burn, you may suffer from blurry vision or even watery eyes to compensate for the dryness. While it may be difficult to resolve dry eyes completely, here are 6 tips to improve your eye health.

Tips to Prevent Dry Eyes in Winter time

1. 1. Keep your sunglasses on

If you are prone to dry eyes in winter, a great way to protect your eyes from winter dryness is to keep your sunglasses on. Keep them with you wherever you go.

2. 2. Keep your eyes moisturized

Winter dryness makes your eyes feel uncomfortable and dry. Many patients resort to over-the-counter eye drops for instant relief, but with a lot of products to choose from, you might damage your eyes even more.

To help your tear film work effectively, it is important to visit an ophthalmologist who can recommend the right eye drops best suited to your eye condition.

3. 3. Keep yourself hydrated

Keeping yourself hydrated is important to maintain healthy eyes. While coffee and tea are beverages that keep you going through the cold winter day, consuming too much caffeine may be dangerous.

Switch your habits up a little and consume healthy fluids such as green tea, earl grey tea, and lemon water that will prevent your body from dehydration. Along with being caffeine-free, these fluids will encourage you to consume more water.

4. 4. Soothe your eyes with a warm washcloth

Patients with dry eyes commonly experience tear secretion. Apply a warm washcloth on both your eyes to restore the right amount of moisture in your eyes. This also soothes irritated, itchy and swollen eyes.

Regular use of a warm washcloth will ease away the symptoms of dry eyes to significantly improve your vision.

5. 5. Follow a nutrition-rich diet

While we take care of our eyes externally, it is also important to keep yourself healthy from within. Consuming a nutrition-rich diet will protect your eyes from eye conditions like dry eyes and macular degeneration.

 Foods you should eat:

Omega-3 rich foods

5. 5. • Chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds
      • Flour, pasta, oatmeal
      • Kale, parsley, spinach
      • Salmon, tuna, trout, halibut
      • Palm oil, Soyabean oil

Potassium

5. 5. • Yogurt
      • Bananas
      • Soybeans
      • Sweet potatoes & potatoes

Quick fix for Dry Eyes

5. • Carrot & beet salad
   • Turmeric almond milk
   • Flourless banana pecan pancakes
   • Chicken chopped salad

6. 6. Take a break from screens

While it is inevitable to completely stay away from your computer screen, it is ideal to take breaks every hour to prevent dry eye syndrome.

Make sure you completely stay away from digital devices while taking a break. To start off, look outside the window and locate green objects. This will soothe your eyes.

If you are looking for experienced ophthalmologists in Fresno, visit Insight Vision to effectively treat your dry eyes.

All You Need to Know About Eye Problems Associated with Eye Makeup

“A woman without paint is like food without salt.”
– PlatusFor centuries, cosmetics have played a crucial role in beautifying women. One of the features that women love to enhance is their eyes. In ancient times, Egyptian women applied dark green color to their under lid and soot or antimony to darken their lashes and upper eyelid. Times have changed and so are the makeup trends. Although modern women still use cosmetics to enhance their eyes, the styles and colors have changed. If used correctly eye makeup can maintain your eye health and make your eyes sparkle, but if used incorrectly, it can ruin your eye health and make your eyes susceptible to eye infections.

Eye Health: Eye Problems Associated with Eye Makeup

The eye health problems that arise due to eye makeup:

1. Scratched CorneaYou can accidentally damage your cornea while applying mascara or eyeliner. The damage can seriously infect the eye.
2. ConjunctivitisIf the product is expired or not properly concealed, there are high chances of bacterial growth, thereby contaminating the product. When this product is applied, an eye infection can occur.
3. Allergic ReactionsSome chemicals or ingredients present in the product can cause an allergic reaction in you. The allergic reaction can manifest in the form of irritation, redness, swelling, or infection.

10 Ways To Avoid Eye Makeup Related Eye Problems

1. Never share. You wouldn’t want another person’s bacteria to get into your eyes. Your eye makeup is just yours to use.
2. Avoid applying eyeliner on the inside of the lash line.
3. Always use a sharpened eyeliner pencil to be precise in your application.
4. Avoid expired product. It is easy for bacteria and fungi to grow on creamy or liquid eye makeup after the product has reached its expiry. If your eye makeup is changing color and texture or smelling weird, then it’s time to toss them away. Each eye makeup product you use has an expiry date.
   When should you toss your eye makeup

   Eye Makeup	Expiry
   Mascara	3-6 months
   Brow Pencil	2 years
   Cream Eyeshadow	6-8 months
   Liquid/Gel Eyeliner	3-4 months
   Kohl	6 months

5. Replace all your eye makeup products after an eye infection in order to avoid bacteria from spreading.
6. Refrain from applying eye makeup while driving or in a moving vehicle. You wouldn’t want to cause eye injuries with a wrong stroke of an applicator.
7. Remove eye makeup before you go to bed because even a tiny speck of eyeliner, eyeshadow, or mascara left in or around your eye can be the cause of an eye infection.
8. If you tend to have a lot of skin allergies, it is a good idea to introduce new makeup products one at a time. So, if an allergy occurs, you can pinpoint the product. Avoid using products that contain harmful chemicals or ingredients that have not been tested yet.
9. If you have had an eye surgery, it is best not to wear any makeup. Consult your ophthalmologist in Fresno, CA before using makeup on your eyes. If it’s safe to use, discard the old makeup and wear only fresh new makeup.

If you believe you are suffering from any symptoms that could be as a result of makeup use, getting it treated is important to maintain eye health and avoid further complications. Make an appointment with Insight Vision Center today.